River Clan:

You don't want to read the '87 manual on the wiper operations!

Here's what it should say:

The wiper stalk has four movements--forward, backward, up, down.
Forward, backward, up are for the windshield wipers and washers.
Down is for the rear wiper/washer.

If you press down and release, it starts the rear wiper in
its only mode of operation, which is intermitant (~5 secs).
If you press down/release again, it stops this.  If you
press down and hold it squirts the washer--and does one of
the above.

                                Richard A. Jones
                                Boulder, Colorado
                                '81 Vanagon   Mr Bus
                                '87 Syncro Westy   El Jefe